The Way-Maker

Are you in a wilderness or just got out of a wilderness? If you have lived very many years in this world your answer would have to be, "yes." Even Jesus went into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil before He went into His active ministry. The Father has purpose for us in every situation. He knows that we learn, grow and our faith is strengthened in our spiritual wildernesses. He has told us that while we are in this world we will have wilderness experiences (tribulation), but He tells us also that He has overcome this world. So to be an over-comer we have to focus on Him, walk in His Light, holding His hand. He will lead us into "paths of righteousness for His namesake."

It is barren, dry and dark in the wilderness. The enemy is waiting in the wilderness to tempt us. Satan is the tempter, father of lies. prince of the power of the air, murderer, destroyer, accuser, a roaring lion, old serpent and the devil. But if we are believers we don't have to fear, because the Lord knows the way through the wilderness. He is the Way! He is the Light to illumine our path with Truth, He is Truth. He delivers us from all the power of the enemy. He causes us to triumph in all things (II cor.2:14; Col.2:15). You may pass through many wildernesses in your lifetime but you don't have to live there. All Jesus wants is our full trust. Full and complete trust brings Him great pleasure. Fears and doubts bring Him great sorrow.

MY LORD KNOWS THE WAY THROUGH THE WILDERNESS

Sidney Cox

My Lord knows the way through the wilderness,

All I have to do is follow,

Light for the way is mine always,

And all I need for tomorrow.

The knows the way through the wilderness,

All I have to do is follow.

We must remember in all of our wildernesses that Jesus is Jehovah Jireh - the Provider. He is the Way-Maker! Since the buck stops with God, we have to know God has planned some wildernesses in our life to refine and perfect our faith in Him to take us through and show the way. But in the end He has planned good and not evil, a hope and a future for us (Jer.29:11). The challenge is to trust the One Who in love is planning a way through all our wildernesses.

GOD HAS NOT PROMISED

Annie Johnson Flint

God has not promised skies always blue,

Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;

Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

God has not promised we shall not know

Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;

He has not told us we shall not bear

Many a burden, many a care.

God has not promised smooth roads and wide,

Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;

Never a mountain, rocky and steep,

Never a river, turbid and deep.

But God has promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labor, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

Ask yourself some hard questions: 1) Do I really trust Jesus to know the way through my wilderness?; 2) Do I really want to follow in the way He leads?; 3) Am I willing to completely commit to Him, to count the cost and relinquish my will completely? If your answer is, "no" to any of these questions your stay in the wilderness may be very long. Remember, He is the Way-Maker, all you have to do is follow.